Property Tax Tip Sheet

State School Levy

January 1995

Property tax is the primary funding source for Washington’s public schools. Two types of property tax levies
support the state school system: the state school levy paid by all Washington property owners for
public schools; and special levies approved by voters for a specific school district.

Whereas revenues from special levies may only be used for that school district, all funds collected from the
state property tax levy are deposited in the state’s general fund. This money is distributed to school districts
throughout the state on a set formula.

Assessed vs. Market Value

The maximum state property tax rate is set in law (RCW 84.52.065) at $3.60 per $1,000 of assessed property
value.

Assessed value is based on the most recent appraisal made by the local county assessor. Some counties revalue
property every year. Other counties revalue only every two, three, or four years.

Equalizing Property Values

Because property is appraised by county assessors on different cycles, the most recent assessed value does not
always reflect current market value. However, state law directs that the state property tax be based on
the market value of property.

If assessed values alone were used to calculate the state property tax, persons owning property in areas
revalued every year would pay more in tax than those appraised less often, since the tax would be based on
a more current and usually higher valuation.

To be fair, the Department of Revenue uses a formula to adjust the state school levy rate so that owners of
like property pay the same amount of tax, based on market value, no matter which county their property is in
or when it is revalued. The formula is a ratio, which is the difference between the market value and the
assessed value. A ratio is formulated for each county in the state to take the different county appraisal
cycles into account.

Please read below, which illustrates how this equalizing ratio works to ensure property owners within
a county pay no more and no less than is truly due for the state school levy tax.

As an example, let us imagine that Mr. Jones owns a home in Green County, while Ms. Walsh owns a home in
Blue County. The homes are identical in every way, except they are located in different counties of the
state.

Green County assessed Mr. Jones’ home this year at $99,000. Blue County assessed Ms. Walsh’s home three
years ago at $80,000.The market, or “true and fair” value of their houses is $100,000.

Without an equalized rate, this is how Mr. Jones’ and Ms. Walsh’s school tax levy would be
assessed:

However, to ensure that Mr. Jones does not pay more than his fair share, and that Ms. Walsh does not pay less
than hers, the Department of Revenue applies a ratio of the assessed value against the market value to arrive
at an equalized rate for properties in each county.

By multiplying the county ratio by the statutory state school levy rate of $3.60 per $1,000 of assessed
value, an equalized tax bill is achieved for both Mr. Jones and Ms. Walsh.

You may notice your school tax levy rate is more or less than the statutory $3.60 rate. The rate
difference experienced by property owners does not mean one owner is getting a break, or that another
owner is over-charged. It simply allows for equity in the application of the state school tax levy.